In addition to Mike Huckabee, who declared Aug. 1 “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day”—187,000 RSVPs so far—now tweets and messages of support are pouring in from the likes of Rick Santorum; Rev. Roger Oldham, spokesman for the Southern Baptist Convention; and even Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas.
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Evangelist Billy Graham has waded into the debate, too, saying he “appreciates” Chick-fil-A for not compromising its values, according the CBN News. “I want to express my support for my good friends Truett Cathy and his son Dan Cathy, and for their strong stand for the Christian faith,” wrote Graham in a statement.

They say for every reaction there is a counter-reaction. And the high profile of Cathy. the resulting boycott and conservative rush to defiantly gobble a Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich as political statement is now countered by another corporate bigwig who is projecting the opposite attitude on same sex marriage — and backing it up with his big bucks:

Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon.com, and his wife, MacKenzie, have agreed to donate $2.5 million to help pass a same-sex marriage referendum in Washington State, instantly becoming among the largest financial backers of gay marriage rights in the country.

With the gift, the couple have doubled the money available to the proponents of Referendum 74, which would legalize same-sex marriage in the state by affirming a law that passed the Legislature this year. Courts or lawmakers have declared gay marriage legal in six other states, but backers of such measures have never succeeded at the ballot box.

Proponents of the effort in Washington State called it a game-changing gift that gives them a fighting chance in November.

“To get this from a straight, married couple sends a powerful message that marriage is seen as a fundamental question of fairness,” Zach Silk, the campaign manager for Washington United for Marriage, said Thursday in an interview.

Mr. Bezos, who founded Amazon.com in 1994 in Seattle and remains its president, now tops a growing list of heterosexual business executives who are replacing wealthy gay people as the some of the biggest donors to the movement behind same-sex marriage and equality for gay men and lesbians. Bill Gates and Steven A. Ballmer of Microsoft each gave $100,000 to the referendum campaign, according to its officials.

But with the seven-figure gift, Mr. Bezos — a famously private executive who runs a $48 billion-a-year retail empire — has now set the bar even higher.

Just as Cathy’s pronouncements impacted his company’s image, so will Brezos’.

If conservatives buy Chick-Fil-A on the designated day it could zoom sales and be a media story. Media types can be relied on to check months from now to see if the boycott or political image impact has any long lasting consquences. But on the designated day, expect sales to zoom.

One lunch order from Rush Limbaugh alone could make up for a week of lost sales.

Meanwhile, get ready for a boycott of Amazon by some conservatives….

What chicken sandwich you eat and where you buy your books may define you in 21st century America.

Putting millions of dollars of personal funds into promoting bigotry across the nation, yeah, that’s leaving a legacy.

Way do go, Dan Cathy & friends.

RP

This boycott will have about as much impact as a cow pattie fertilizing a whole pasture.

Chick-Fil-A will continue to sell sandwiches becasue the greater majority of people do not even know about a boycott, could care less about a boycott and do not care about a boycott. The ones making most of the noise are northern liberals and chick-Fil-A has a small footprint in northern states. It is basicalloy a southern USA company in a region with high moral values.

Yes, the deep South is a high moral region. The region leads the nation in categories like infant mortality, poverty and uninsured…

slamfu

The South is certainly high in conservative Christian morals, but I’m not so sure that’s always the same thing as high moral values. Seems to me a lot of it is based on exclusionary beliefs and intolerance for other ideas.

davidpsummers

It seems these days partisans on both sides spend a lot of time trying to punish those who say things they don’t agree with and reward those who say things they do agree with. The goal appears to be not debate the issues but rather simply try and make sure they other side doesn’t get his points said.

The_Ohioan

A homophobe is a homophobe whether he’s a Democrat or a Republican. Nothing partisan about that.

StockBoyLA

RP: “This boycott will have about as much impact as a cow pattie fertilizing a whole pasture.”

Agreed.

RP: “It is basicalloy a southern USA company in a region with high moral values.”

Ha! It depends on how you define “moral values” (or “Christian values”).

Being raised in the South I was taught the Golden Rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

I was also taught to believe in Jesus’ teaching to not judge others, that one should work towards one’s own salvation and not worry about others, for we all travel our own path.

As an American I was taught that we should respect others’ beliefs. The country was founded by a diverse group of people who wanted the freedom to live their lives according to their beliefs.

These days conservatives do not believe in any of these values. Conservatives treat others (such as gays, blacks, Hispanics) as second class citizens and second class human beings. How would conservatives like to be treated as a second class citizen?

Conservatives judge others and force their views on others. Whether it’s anti-abortion, gay marriage, or intolerance of other aspects of the modern life. While Christian conservatives condemn someone who is (or is even suspected of being) gay, Christian conservatives embrace men and women living together and having premarital sex.

While Christian conservatives want the freedom to carry guns and fight for their rights as citizens under the Constitution, to live as they want, Christian conservatives work to take away rights of other US citizens (such as Christian conservatives taking away the constitutional right of gays to marry in California).

While hate, bigotry and violence continue to be big problems in our country, Christian conservatives promote these “values” when people like Cathy proudly proclaim they have “Christian values” but do not follow the Bible’s teachings…. and make statements and financially support groups that preach intolerance, bigotry and hatred towards fellow citizens.

I don’t care if Dan Cathy is for or against same-sex marriage. He is free to live his life as he likes and I respect that particular aspect.

However how on Earth can I respect someone who claims to be a Christian, yet does not live by the Golden Rule (which is pretty much universal)? How can I respect someone who claims to be a Christian yet judges and condemns others? How can I respect someone who claims to be an American and values his right to his opinions and who lives the life he wants….yet he makes statements and supports organizations who are intolerant and have actually taken away rights of his fellow citizens. Rights he still enjoys?

It’s one thing to believe that you’re straight and to live the life you want and to have people respect your beliefs.

It’s quite another thing to believe you are straight and to live the life you want and have others respect you and your beliefs… but then you also work and promote intolerance of those you disagree with. And you also work to take away the constitutional rights of others.

The idea of respect with others in this country is to “agree to disagree” and you both live your lives as your beliefs dictate. There is no respect given when one person disagrees with others and works towards dismantling the constitutional rights of others.

Cathy, his fellow Christians and conservatives may have values, but they are not the Christian values I was taught, nor are they the American values our Founding Fathers built our country upon.

RP

Thanks to all who fell into that “high Moral value” trap. Started some good comments from everyone, but it should remind everyone that there are many who do believe that anyone that does not believe in their christian teachings like they do is a lessor human being and needs to be reborn so to speak.

But I think all of this will blow over with little impact to CFA. Those that are born again Christians who may never have eaten at CFA could become a regular patron. Those with strict beliefs that anyone who does not beleive in same sex partnerships is a homophobe, will never eat there again. The 99% that fall into neither category will continue to do the same as they do today.

And remember, CFA has a very small footprint in the north. One resturant in Chicago, a couple in Boston and not much anywhere else. And for those that do not have a CFA around (and don’t want them now), CFA refuses to open due to christian beliefs that the sabboth is a day of rest and family. If they are willing to forgo profits from Sunday sales, they are surely willing to forgo profits from those sales to individuals that will not shop there now due to the same sex issue.

SteveK

StockBoyLA says: Cathy, his fellow Christians and conservatives may have values, but they are not the Christian values I was taught, nor are they the American values our Founding Fathers built our country upon.

stockboy– Thank you for writing what I have long-believed. Those good moral Christian conservatives are also the ones STILL pushing the lie that Obama is a Muslim and now 1/3 of Conservative Republicans believe it based on NO proof.

When reasonable Republicans called on Michelle Bachmann to back off on her Muslim Brotherhood witch hunt in the Obama administration, the far right segment rallied to her rescue. Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, Steve Deacy- host of a Christian radio program, The Tea Party Nation, Sean Hannity, The Family Research Council, John Bolton, and others came to her defense. She is currently the second biggest fundraiser in the House.

JeffP

I too wouldn’t have trouble leaving the Chick-Fil-A owner’s situation as a live and let live cultural phemenon, but that they use their corporate profits to support anti-gay organizations that affect the issues in the public square puts it into another realm. Two or more can play that game, and I congratulate Amazon and the Gates Foundation for their contribution to the opposite effect.

Is difficult for me to accept that these guys are being persecuted for their religious beliefs just as soon as their religious beliefs affect the discussion in the public square.

People can vote their religious beliefs, campaign and fund anti-gay legislation (remember LDS church) and whatever–but don’t cry “religious persecution” (currently evolving amongst the right) when you are challenged on it.

I was born & raised Catholic with the same beliefs as many of you have posted:

— forgiveness
— don’t be judgmental
— accept even those who are different
— help those in need
— try to live a good life
— “leave unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s” (government & religion don’t mix)
— curse the moneylenders!! 😉

I am no longer a religious person because of the hypocrisy. Sadly, it has also resulted in me not even believing in the god of my youth any more.

Nothing new there, but the entire corporation seems to be concerned about the spiritual life of their employees and their community. If you go to the CFA website and look at all the organizations they have founded for their employees and for the communities they serve, it’s a little eerie. Other organizations have community service foundations, but not to influence the communities “spiritual health”. They’re not interested in selling just chicken, that’s for sure.

StockBoyLA

SteveK, thanks! 🙂

Bluebell, thanks! Also I didn’t realize Michele Bachmann was the second highest fundraiser in the House.

Barky, good point about including the poor.

JeffP, “that [Chick-fil-A] use their corporate profits to support anti-gay organizations that affect the issues in the public square puts it into another realm. Two or more can play that game, and I congratulate Amazon and the Gates Foundation for their contribution to the opposite effect.”

Yes, and just to be clear… I’d like to point out that CFA, the Republicans and conservative Christians are the ones fighting to take away rights of citizens. Whereas Amazon and other groups are working towards protecting rights of citizens, and working to expand the rights (and equal rights) of all citizens. Amazon, Gates, etc. aren’t working “against” Christians, conservatives and Republicans because Amazon, et. al. aren’t trying to take away anyone’s rights.